UK: Recent cold weather threatens to delay potato cultivation

Patience “will be key” this potato season as the recent cold weather threatens to delay cultivation. The recent freezing temperatures caused by the ‘Beast from the East’ coupled with wet soils has delayed ploughing in some areas. Andy Steven, agronomist at Agrovista, explains that there’s still a lot of ground preparation to be done before planting starts in April. He said this will mean a later start to planting is more likely, and any excess rainfall could also cause greater pressure on the crop. “Patience and care are vital to ensure that soil preparation is done at the right time without creating compaction, either on the surface or deeper within the soil profile, which can then have an impact on yield,” Mr Steven said. More